It all combines into a flashing neon sign of "pay attention to this dude" – first the villain intro, then the incongruous hearteyes at Zhao Yunlan, then the "I have waited for ten thousand years – I hope you still remember your promise to meet" monologue of slight foreboding, then the supreme protectiveness over Li Qian. Lots of things that don't necessarily add up like how one'd expect them to!